Quantification of solid particle transport in suspension in a stream: Case of Wadi Zeddine Ain-Defla, Algeria

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid areas are characterised by differentiation in meteorological conditions. Sometimes the rains are rare and not very intense and at other times they are dense and very intense, resulting in torrents that often lead to strong soil erosion. Most of the time, the losses occur at the solids level because the erosion effect is too high. In this study, we want to evaluate the transfer of solid sediments as a function of liquid transport in the basin of Wadi Zeddine at Ain Defla in Algeria. To understand this phenomenon, we used the data of liquid flows ( Ql, m 3∙s –1) and concentration of suspended sediments ( C, g∙dm –3), transported in the river, the data collected by the NWRA (National Water Resources Agency), over 24 years have been used to find a relationship between these two quantities, to estimate the quantity of solid transport Qs (kg∙s –1) in the watercourse of the catchment area studied. The results obtained show a good correlation between solid and liquid flows, with a correlation coefficient estimated at 90%, and the average annual sediment supply recorded at the outlet of the Wadi Zeddine watershed is estimated at around 88,048 Mg, which corresponds to 202 Mg∙km –2∙y –1/ erosion rate. This value is comparable to those found in other regions with similar hydrological regimes.

Keywords

• algeria
• concentration of sediment
• erosion
• liquid flow
• solid flow
• suspension
• wadi zeddine